“Bead to death,” Fibromuscular Dysplasia Presenting as A Rapidly Enlarging Right Anterior Axillary Mass

Abstract

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a rare non-inflammatory, non-atherosclerotic arterial disease characterized by abnormal cellular proliferation and distorted architecture. It commonly affects the renal and extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries, but nearly all arterial beds may be affected, and multivessel involvement is common. We report a rare case of a 31-year-old Filipino female who presented with a rapidly enlarging right anterior axillary mass. Initial consideration was a bleeding soft tissue sarcoma as seen on chest CT scan, while whole abdominal CT scan with IV contrast revealed incidental findings of multiple aneurysms in the superior mesenteric artery, both renal arteries and right common iliac artery, suggestive of fibromuscular dysplasia. Further vascular imaging studies showed a looped left internal carotid, and a tortuous left brachial artery with beading pattern.